York County Establishes Community Garden Applications for Garden Plots Now Being Accepted
York County has begun work on a community garden located adjacent to the baseball fields at the York County Sports Complex, 412 Sports Way just off Route 17. There are 48 plots available to York County residents at a small fee: 10’x12’ plots cost $15 annually and 10’x20’ plots will cost $25 annually. The fees will be applied to the costs incurred by the County that are required to establish and maintain the plots. Application/agreement forms are available online atwww.yorkcounty.gov/vce.
The community garden program will be administered by York County/Poquoson Cooperative Extension Agent Dan Nortman.
“This is a great opportunity for individuals who do not have gardening space at their residence or those who simply want to meet other gardeners, share growing advice, and enjoy the outdoors,” Nortman says.
For those who rent a plot, the Extension Service will provide them with assistance in the form of educational programs that will be held at varying times throughout the year.
Some of the rules of the community garden are:
• One plot is permitted per family and the rental is on an annual basis
• Once open for the season, gardeners must begin working their plot within 14 days of registering.
• Mulches such as stone, carpet and artificial turf are prohibited. Newspaper or cardboard used as mulch must be properly secured to avoid littering.
• Pets are not permitted.
• Weeds and weedy vines must be removed promptly. Gardeners are asked to avoid planting spreading plants near the lanes or adjacent plots to avoid infringing on the walkway and one your neighbor’s growing space.
• All trash must be removed from the site by the gardener.
• Individual fencing of plots is allowed
• Gardeners must not practice any horticultural technique such as fertilizing, watering, using pesticides, etc. that will in any way affect adjacent plots. Application should not occur on windy days. The application of any herbicides is strictly forbidden.
The complete list of rules is available on the application/agreement form found on the York County/Poquoson Cooperative Extension website listed above.
“While the garden is not specified as ‘organic,’ we strongly encourage gardeners to consider alternatives to the use of chemical pesticides,” Nortman says.
The county’s General Services department has been hard at work measuring out the individual plots and will have the garden ready for green-thumbed citizens on March 1.
“Crews are working on measuring out the plots, tilling the soil, and soon will begin laying the walkways and building the gated fence to help with wildlife control,” says Mark Bellamy, director of General Services. “This community garden was developed under the direction of the Board of Supervisors and it’s great to be able to provide this to the community.”
For more information on the community garden, call York County/Poquoson Extension Service Agent Dan Nortman at 890-4940 or email dan.nortman@yorkcounty.gov.
Author
